Vol. 53, No.2
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
January 14, 2015
Special Section
Local Events
Entertainment
Sports
Student Corner
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Jo Anne Disney, Devette Johnson National
What do we know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? History tells us that Dr. King is “considered the formative figure in the modern fight for civil rights, and his legacy looms large in the work of all those who follow him in his cause.” He was born Michael King, Jr. on January 15, 1929. His father, Michael King, Sr. was a pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1931. He was a successful minister and “adopted the name Martin Luther King, Sr. in honor of the German Protestant religious
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leader Martin Luther.” Later Michael Jr. followed his father’s lead and became Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a very educated man. In 1948, he earned a sociology degree from Morehouse College and attend the Crozer Theological Seminary. He was valedictorian of his class in 1951 as well as student body president. Also, he earned a fellowship for graduate study and out of several colleges, including Yale and Edinburgh in Scotland, he chose Boston University. While he was working on his doctorate, Dr. King met the love of his life, Coretta Scott and they were married in June, 1953. “In 1954, while still working on his dissertation, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama. He completed his Ph.D. and was awarded his degree in 1955.” Amazingly, Dr. King was on 25 years old.
As we hear civil rights being blasted all over the news and social media, what is it? According to Cornell University Law School “A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Various jurisdictions have enacted statutes to prevent discrimination based on a person’s race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin, and in some instances sexual orientation. The most important expansions of civil rights in the United States
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occurred as a result of the enactment of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States.” See more information at www.law.
cornell.edu/wex/civil_rights Dr. King’s civil rights efforts were many and were unwelcomed as he was arrested several times and in 1960 was imprisoned over a traffic violation. John F. Dr. King continued on page 4
El Monte Union High School District Awarded Golden Bell Award by Anne Donofrio-Holter El Monte
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The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) has been awarded a Golden Bell from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) for its Advanced Placement (AP) - Onward and Upward: Closing the Achievement Gap program. It has been the goal of the EMUHSD to increase the number of high poverty
minority students taking and succeeding in rigorous AP classes. “AP classes improve education in struggling urban districts such as the El Monte Union High School District,” said Keith Richardson, Director II of Research and Curriculum/ CTE Service. “In El Monte, AP exposes students to new
subjects like economics college. AP credits not only and psychology and creates help students save money opportunities for those who on tuition, but help stumight not otherwise think of dents develop college-level themselves as college mateacademic skills that enable rial.” them to succeed in their first According to Richardson, college year. AP classes become espeObjectives of the Adcially critical when almost vanced Placement - Onward all EMUHSD students need and Upward: Closing the financial aid and scholarships to attend Golden Bell Award continued on page 6